Hayfever (song) explained

Hayfever
Cover:	The Trash Can Sinatras Hayfever 1993 single cover.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	The Trash Can Sinatras
Album:	I've Seen Everything
B-Side:	Say
Released:	13 April 1993^[1]
Length:	3:15
Label:	Go! Discs
Producer:	Ray Shulman
Prev Title:	Circling the Circumference
Prev Year:	1990
Next Title:	I've Seen Everything
Next Year:	1993

"Hayfever" is a song by Scottish band The Trash Can Sinatras, which was released in 1993 as the lead single from their second studio album I've Seen Everything. The song was written by all five band members and produced by Ray Shulman. "Hayfever" reached No. 61 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 11 in the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.^{[2] [3]}

Background

"Hayfever" was recorded at Shabby Road Studios in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and mixed at Orinoco Studios in London.^[4]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, Paul Mathar of Melody Maker commented, "Another daft name, and another pleasant surprise. Trash Can Sinatras seem to have undergone some sort of salvation, deciding they don't really care whether anyone likes them or not and with that carelessness has come the revelation that maybe they're rather good after all."^[5] Johnny Dee of NME was less enthusiastic and described the song as an example of the "kind of music that American College Radio laps up as quality British indie rock and that, coincidentally, no one in Britain seems to like". He added, "MOR fear holds anyone back from truly loving the Trash Cans, they sound just a little too serious and keen on over-production."^[6]

In a review of I've Seen Everything, Scott Bacon of The Indianapolis Star described "Hayfever" as "bouncy" and considered the song to have "hit written all over it". He also praised Nick Ingham's string arrangement which he felt "enhance[d]" the song.^[7] Brad Webber of the Chicago Tribune commented, "On 'Hayfever', Reader wistfully sings about solving life's problems 'with a couple of tablets'."^[8]

Track listing

7-inch and cassette single^{[4] [9]}

1. "Hayfever" – 3:15
2. "Say" – 2:51

12-inch and CD single^{[10] [11]}

1. "Hayfever" – 3:15
2. "Say" – 2:51
3. "Kangaroo Court" – 3:02
4. "Skin Diving" – 3:47

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes and the I've Seen Everything booklet.^{[11] [12]}

The Trash Can Sinatras

• Frank Reader – vocals, guitar
• Paul Livingston – guitar
• John Douglas – guitar
• David Hughes – bass
• Stephen Douglas – drums

Additional personnel

• Larry Primrose – piano on "Hayfever"
• Nick Ingham – string arrangement on "Hayfever"

Production

• Ray Shulman – producer, engineer, mixing
• Larry Primrose – engineer, mixing

Other

• John Douglas – sleeve painting

Notes and References

1. News: Gems from Ayrshire . . 23 March 1993 . 15 October 2021.
2. Web site: TRASH CAN SINATRAS | full Official Chart History . . 15 October 2021.
3. 3 July 1993. Modern Rock Tracks. Billboard. 68. World Radio History. 15 October 2021.
4. Hayfever. The Trash Can Sinatras. 1993. UK 7-inch single sleeve. Go! Discs. GOD 98, 857 108-7.
5. Mathar . Paul . 3 April 1993 . Singles . . 30.
6. Dee . Johnny . 8 May 1993 . Singles . . 16.
7. News: Bacon. Scott. 28 May 1993. Record Reviews: Pharez Whitted's do-it-yourself debut disc worth collecting. The Indianapolis Star. D5.
8. News: Webber. Brad. 22 July 1993. Recordings. Chicago Tribune.
9. Hayfever. The Trash Can Sinatras. 1993. UK cassette single sleeve. Go! Discs. GODMC 98.
10. Hayfever. The Trash Can Sinatras. 1993. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Go! Discs. GODX 98.
11. Hayfever. The Trash Can Sinatras. 1993. UK CD single liner notes. Go! Discs. GODCD 98, 857 109-2.
12. I've Seen Everything. I've Seen Everything. The Trash Can Sinatras. 1993. UK CD album liner notes. Go! Discs. 828 408-2.